Which is better to join U.S Army Reserve OR Army National Guard?

Question

if you had a choice what service would you join and why?
Which service has better benefits/treatment?

U.S Army Reserve OR the States Army National Guard??

please select either or.
no neither or other branch of service answers plase!!

DIDNT I SAY NO EITHER OR ANSWERS

JUST PLEASE PICK ONE OF THESE

man. do you people ever read?

I AM NOT JOINING. i am an AF ROTC CADET
THIS IS FOR MY COUSIN

Answer 1

Either is fine, talk to their recruiters and see what opportunities are available for you.

Answer 2

You have to first decide what your goals in life are. Take the first difference between active duty and the reserve or guard. In active duty, assuming you are going for a career, you would get your retirement after 20 years of service, and the retirment benefit starts on the month following your retirement date, regardless of your age. If you join the guard or reserve, you do your 20 years of service, but your retirement payments don't start till your 60 years old (maybe 62 now). Then there is the fact that if you are active, you go where and when they send you, all over the world. In the guard you are restricted to the state that your in, unless called to active duty, and with the reserve the area where you can be sent for training/work is expanded, again, unless you are called to active duty. Remember that if you are on either guard or reserve and put on active duty, you may get the same pay as an active duty for your paygrade, however, you won't be entitled to the same benefits. If you join the guard or reserve, you hold a regular position in civilian life, such as a nurse at a hospital, however, if you are called onto active duty, the military does Not supplement your income to match what you were making in civilian life. For example...as a nurse, you enter as a captain, O-3. for each day of reserve training, you drive to Post XYZ. While there for a weekend, you get paid for 2 days of an O-3 pay, same as any other O-3. On Monday, you return to work at the local hospital and make $60,000 a year. So, your combined income is say $80,000 a year. Then, you are called up for active duty as an O-3, and your full time military pay is $45,000. That is all you receive. Not the 80k, you can't write off any loss, etc. The hospital will most likely hold the job open for you for a specific time (required by law) however, they aren't required to hold your position open. You were the head of pediatrics at the hospital, but when you return the position has been filled. You can work at pediatrics for the same pay, but the "head" has already been assigned to someone else. Also, remember, that the reserve and/or guard does not "tell" you when you annual obligation is fulfilled. For example, you are required to get 40 points per year for that year to qualify for retirement. You only get 38 points this year, but supplement next year and get 42 points. Only the year with 40 or more points counts, so, basically, you would have to say in the reserve/guard for another year to qualify for retirement. (something the recruiters seem to forget to tell you).

Answer 3

Truthfully, you should join based on 2 criteria:

1) Are you dead set on Combat Arms? If you are, then don't even bother with the Reserves, because only the Guard offers Combat Arms. Don't research the Reserves if you want to be an Infantryman, or a Tanker, etc..

2) If that is not an issue, I would recommend looking at which one offers better benefits. It varies from state to state. You have to be mature and make hard choices.

Go to the unit during their drill, and get a feel for it. Benefits for the Guard and Reserve are both good.

Honestly, if I were to go to a Guard unit, and look around, and I really liked the unit and felt at home there, and then I went and talked to the Reserve recruiter, and didn't feel such a warm and fuzzy, ultimately... I would join that Guard unit.

Remember, you are joining a brotherhood, you WILL go to combat with that unit, so take a look around (window shop) and make your decision.

The Army is going to treat you like an adult (in some ways) so act like one and make a real decision based on your impressions.

Answer 4

National Guard and Reserve both receive FEDERAL money, both do 1 weekend a month, 2 week annual training, bot get deployed, I have been to Afghanistan and Iraq. I'm in the National Guard, to me it really doesn't matter, If I was you or your friend I would find out which one has the largest bonus and offers the best benefits, I know in KY the National Guard pays for tuition to any state school. I suggest the National Guard,

Answer 5

Ok here's from my husband who is an Army recruiter, Reserves, because they are federal funded, and can only be called to duty by the president. The National Guard is funded by the state, so if the state has no money, guess what, no money for school, also the state is who calls you to duty, so if something major happens to a state the people who run the state can call upon you. Anymore questions let me know on here, I'll check this everyday.

No both are not federal funded, better do some research.

Answer 6

34 and living is pretty close but let me give you some more insight.

The Reserves answer directly to the Feds. Therefore, you are at the mercy of the president when it comes to pretty much anything involving the military. Their funding comes out of Army funding, meaning better equipment, more training, etc. Your next assignment could be ANYWHERE!

The National Guard works for the state. When it is not being exploited for war, they are responsible for disaster response and state missions. They are only partially funded by the Army, so have older equipment and more training restrictions. However, the state "owns" you. So you will not be assigned outside of the state.

If you want to be close to home and family, go National Guard. If you want to adventure and explore the world, go Reserve.

Answer 7

From what i know, U.S. National Guard is less tough then U.S. Reserve. In the reserve u can be called for real combat for real war but national guard isn't really a group to enter war. If you really want to fight and is a adrenaline freak i would say Reserve, but if you just want some credential then i would say National Guard. Be warned, Reserve is possibly more dangerous. If i were to choose i would go with national guard, less chance of dying.

Answer 8

If im not mistaken but i could be,, the army reserve and national gaurd are the close to the same, exept that the national gaurd trians on certian times and the full army is full time, I could be wrong though, lets see what answers u get, Also I think the airforce would be my kind of work, I love to fly and do mechanic work,

Answer 9

I wouldn't join either of them, personally. If I were to join the military now, I would just go ahead and take the plunge to go active duty in the Army, because you are likely to spend more time activated than you are inactive reserve at this point anyway, with the frequent deployments and increased schedule of troop activity.

Answer 10

if you want to be bored out of your mind go guard, some states have full paid tuition big plus but you got to sign up for 6 years over all i liked active duty better but that's your choice and blue voltage is mistaken more guard troop get deployed every where my unit has been deployed twice in three years... oh by the way i need you info for grap..LOL

Answer 11

You might as well hang yourself on a cross. It used to be national guard. But they get shipped out as well. Honor your mother and father or any one else you hold dear and preserve your life and your country. Want to fight terrorism? Teach peace. Want to save lives? Become a paramedic. Save your own life first and the others will follow.